FBC – Chapter 58 Miscarriage

Her chin was lifted, and she met his cold, deep gaze.

“The food box fell…” The young girl’s eyes darted around nervously, her voice soft and timid.

“Look at me.”

Gu Hua could only brace herself and meet his eyes, staring straight into those emotionless depths.

“You’re asking me for something?”

Staring at her, Mu Junyan felt a sliver of guilt.

If not for Mu An, she wouldn’t have been forced into this.

She had destroyed her own innocence and cast aside her dignity, all to seek his protection. Yet today, she was still being made to suffer.

A sudden urge rose in Mu Junyan to grant her what she wanted.

Gu Hua nodded, then shook her head.

Mu Junyan waited for her to speak further.

Sincerity had always been the most effective persuasion.

Gu Hua sat up straighter, trying to put some distance between them, lowering her head like a child who had done something wrong.

“I originally prepared some snacks for the Duke as a late-night treat. What just happened must’ve upset you, and I know your mood isn’t good. I just hoped to do a little something to cheer you up.”

“Hm, that’s the truth at least.”

Mu Junyan gave a slight nod. “What is it you want?”

Gu Hua furtively lifted her eyes for a quick glance at him, then quickly lowered her gaze again. Her voice turned even softer.

“This concubine will like to ask the Duke to assign someone capable to me. I want to investigate something very important.”

Very obedient—she now referred to herself as “qie” (your concubine).

Gu Hua’s back tensed when his hot palm suddenly slid to her lower back.

“Granted.”

His hand applied slight pressure. Gu Hua understood, and obediently leaned into his embrace. She was just about to lift her arms around his neck when he caught her hands.

“Drink this bowl of soup.”

Only then did Gu Hua notice a bowl of soup on the desk.

She had just escaped a figurative “tiger-and-wolf” soup and instinctively recoiled at the sight. She asked timidly, “What… what kind of soup is it?”

“A nourishing tonic that brings pleasure.”

Gu Hua’s face turned deathly pale, and her mind exploded in panic.

“Wh-why do I have to drink that?”

“Didn’t you prepare a whole table of kidney-tonifying, essence-replenishing dishes for me? Since you want something, this is my way of reciprocating.”

Gu Hua put on a bitter face and pleaded humbly, “Please… without the soup, I’ll serve you well.”

Mu Junyan’s expression was indifferent. “This soup is different from the last. Didn’t you say you wanted to lift my spirits? Didn’t you ask me to help you? If you drink this, you’ll perform even better. Otherwise, everything you said is just empty flattery and lies.”

How was this different?

Gu Hua looked aggrieved, her beautiful eyes glaring up at him in helpless frustration.

Mu Junyan’s husky voice was full of temptation. “Only a tiny bit of stimulant—just enough to make you bolder.”

Gu Hua trembled at the memory, scared of the burning pain and the loss of control.

If she drank this and acted too wanton, how would he see her?

As just a plaything?

Her heart ached.

So, Mu Junyan wasn’t the noble gentleman she thought he was. In the end, he was just like any other man.

She clenched her fists. Fine—if it meant death, so be it.

He seemed like a man of his word. If she could get his people’s help, she might finally uncover proof about Concubine Pei’s arranged marriage scheme.

Gu Hua made up her mind, picked up the large bowl, and looked at the full soup with lingering dread.

Forcing back the nausea, she drank it slowly, sip by painful sip.

When she finally finished the last drop, she held up the empty bowl.

Meekly she said, “Duke, I’ve finished it.”

Mu Junyan’s dark gaze deepened. He reached out to wipe the soup from the corner of her lips.

His lips, thin like a blade, parted slightly as he praised in a husky tone, “Good girl.”

Gu Wanru knelt on the ground, staring blankly as Yin Zhi—covered in blood and flesh—was dragged away. She was completely panicked.

Jinkui cried as she tugged at her. “Miss, please save Yin Zhi. If they throw her out like this, she’ll die for sure!”

Snapping back to her senses, Gu Wanru rushed to grab Mu An’s sleeve. “My lord, I never meant to harm you. I only wanted to please you!”

She did care about the position of young madam of the Duke’s household, but more than that, she longed for Mu An’s sincere affection.

In this household, she was growing increasingly isolated. He was the only one she could cling to.

Though she carried the Duke family’s first grandson, relying on the child alone wouldn’t secure her unstable status.

Mu An threw her off in disgust. “You’re useless at everything. What good are you?”

Yao Yao walked over with her handkerchief swinging in her hand, speaking coyly, “Young Madam, you’re so delicate and noble. Why resort to such dirty tricks to hold young master’s favor?”

Gu Wanru glared at her. “You’re the one who meddled! If not for you, my lord would’ve already had his way. You gave the drug! You’re the dirty one!”

Yao Yao snorted and clung closely to Mu An, their posture intimate. “You forced me to give you the drug—what does it have to do with me? Your sister’s not some goddess. You really think my lord can’t live without her? And you—you’re her real sister, yet you keep trying to push her into a man’s bed to be his concubine. You think that’s what a good person does?”

Gu Wanru trembled in fury, pointing at her with shaking fingers, but couldn’t say a word in retort.

Yao Yao, with her natural charm, caressed Mu An’s face with her fragrant handkerchief.

Coyly she said, “My lord, I just brought back a ten-year peach blossom wine. Would you like to have a drink?”

Gu Wanru tried to stand, but a sharp pain stabbed through her abdomen, draining the color from her face. Clutching her belly, she cried out.

“My lord, my stomach hurts!”

Mu An rolled his eyes. “Didn’t the Physician Sun just say you were faking it? Now you’re acting again? Let’s go. Time for some peach blossom wine.”

Yao Yao walked off arm-in-arm with Mu An, then looked back, smiling provocatively at the ashen-faced Gu Wanru.

Gu Wanru trembled with rage. Another sharp pain shot through her abdomen. She frantically shoved Jinkui. “Go get the Physician Sun!”

Jinkui’s gaze lingered on the bloody trail left by the dragged-off Yin Zhi. It wasn’t until Gu Wanru pushed her that she came to her senses.

“Yes, Miss.”

She looked around and realized the Physician Sun was nowhere to be seen.

Even the other servants had all vanished.

“Should Miss return to Jinxiu Pavilion first, or sit here on the ground while I fetch the doctor?”

Gu Wanru was furious. “Idiot! You want me to catch cold sitting here?!”

Jinkui obediently helped her up, but then froze. “Miss… you’re bleeding.”

Gu Wanru also felt a warm rush uncontrollably flowing between her legs. She looked down—her legs were drenched in blood.

“Wh-what do I do?!”

Gu Wanru screamed at the top of her lungs, “Help! Somebody, help!”

Jinkui’s face also changed. She caught Gu Wanru as she nearly collapsed, and shouted with all her might, “Someone help! The young madam is having a miscarriage!”

Zhou Zhilian rushed to Jinxiu Pavilion upon hearing the news. Inside, the midwives were moving back and forth, their basins filled with blood.

The Physician Sun paced anxiously outside.

She walked up to Zhou Chunyu. “Brother, what’s going on?”

Zhou Chunyu was calm. “Probably a miscarriage.”

Zhou Zhilian’s eyes widened. “She’s over six months along. The child can’t be saved, right?”

“Probably not.”

She tilted her head to look at her composed brother and suddenly let out a light chuckle.

Good—better if it’s gone. No need for another disaster to be born.

“Should we report this to the Lord?”

Zhou Chunyu looked down at her. “Isn’t the Lord busy right now?”

Zhou Zhilian blushed under his gaze and turned her face away. “Of course he is.”

“Then there’s no need to disturb him.”

“Did you inform the Young Master?”

Zhou Zhilian looked around but didn’t see Mu An anywhere.

“Hm, the Young Master is even busier,” Zhou Chunyu said with biting sarcasm.

Zhou Zhilian fell silent.

This “busy” clearly meant something else.